Team Coaching or Group Coaching - What's the Difference?

For many coaches reading this blog, it's likely that you undertake both team coaching and group

coaching with different clients. Sometimes, when we are brought in to work with a grouping at an organization, we're asked to coach a group, and we find out it's really a team. Likewise, we may be engaged to coach a team and find out it's a group.

Consider these examples - a coach is asked to coach and handful of new leaders at an organization. They all come from different parts of the business and don't report to each other. In fact, many of them are just meeting each other for the first time.

Second, a team coach is engaged to work with a group of professionals who are being brought together to execute a special project. Over the next 2 months they are expected to design and implement a new process.

So, which is which?
Example 1 - a group.
Example 2 - a team

What's the difference? When we are coaching a team there's a web of relationships, history and common purpose that we are stepping into. When we coach a group, it's likely that the group is starting to form.

A significant different as well is the type of entity and focus we bring to the conversation.
As a team there is, or aspirationally there is, is a shared purpose, mission and vision. They exist for a reason. Teams exist to produce results. The relationships and people which make up that body are central in creating the results they get  even a remote team. The focus in team coaching is on supporting alignment across the team. It's about helping people see their connectivity and alignment together.
In group coaching in contrast, there may not be a significant amoutn of connection or even similarity in their work, their focus, yet, group members can benefit significantly from connecting with and exploring topics of similar interest together. Going back to the examples above, it can be very valuable to connect with other leaders in different parts of an organization, or even across an industury.

When coaching a team, it can be advantageous to explore the various factors which makes a team excel. From Hackman and Wageman -- check this publication, to Katzenhach and Smith, we know that there are several elements which help make a team excel. From clear roles and goals, to a shared vision, and regular practices like team meetings, to everyone understanding what success looks like and how they are measured. These become even more pronounced in the remote and virtual space. For more on this check out the new Remote Pathways Podcast I co-host. We are just at Episode 5 and delve into the different people, places and pathways to remote work. You may also want to check out the Expanding Your Group and Team Coaching Toolkit post I wrote a few months ago on Team Effectiveness

Consider how you might leave space for a team to explore where they are along each of these areas.

For a more detailed look at the difference between group and team coaching, please check out thees articles I have written in the last few years for choice Magazine.

Here's a link to "Group and Team Coaching - The Landscape of Many" as published in Choice Volume 19  - Click here to download 
or  Group and Team Coaching - Valuable Modalities for Today's Organizational Context, Volume 16 of Choice. Click here to download


We go into greater detail around the similarities and differences throughout the Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum (10 CCes), and to a lesser extent in the Group Coaching Essentials program (8.75 CCEs). I hope you will consider joining us for an upcoming virtual learning group.

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
Author of Effective Group Coaching (2010), Coaching Business Builder (2018), Effective Virtual Conversations (2017) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013). Check out my author page on Amazon for all publications.
Email: info@potentialsrealized.com

If you are looking for  coaching skills development through CCE approved programs - The next Group CoachingEssentials CCE approved program starts on Monday February 3rd from 9 - 1015 am ET - group calls will be held on February 3, 10, 24, March 2 and 9, 2020. This 8.75 CCE program also includes weekly 1-1 time with me (15 min each week). Is 2020 your year to get your groups going or expand the number of groups you are doing? Whether you are new to group coaching or stepping into your next year, there’s always something to learn – I hope you’ll join us. Reserve your spot here.

Also starting on February 3rd is the Mentor Coaching Group (10 hours for ACC/ PCC). Join me for 10 hours of mentor coaching for your credential. This group will be held on Mondays from 12 - 1pm Eastern from February 3 - May 4, 2020.

The 60 Day Coaching Business Builder will also kick off a new cohort on February 1st. This hybrid live and on-demand program supports you in 60 days of daily steps, also with a weekly 1-1 time with me!

Now Available - Square Conversation Sparker Journaling Cards - Joining the Family!

Many of you know how passionate I am in terms of bringing in different resources to "Spark" the
conversation with the groups and teams I work with. Sometimes a question is just not enough.

New Square Journaling 

Conversation Sparker Cards -2019

That led to the initial creation of the Conversation Sparker Deck - a 72 post-card sized card deck - which I launched back in 2014. People have loved having a tangible item to hold in their hands as they explore a range of topics. I've used them in so many ways that back in 2016 I pulled together an ebook called the 40 Ways to Work with Visual Cards, which provides facilitated instructions on 40 different ways to work with any card deck. You can pick up a copy of the 40 Ways ebook for immediate download at the Potentials Realized store.

A few years after this I created the Teams365 TEam Sparker Cards which are much smaller and are 52 weeks in total. They are geared for teams to use in pulling a card a week for discussion.

Larger Conversation Sparker Cards - 

launched 2014. Digital also.

Earlier this week my shipment arrived of the newest family member in the Conversation Sparker family - the square Conversation Sparker Journaling Prompts. While you might use these for journaling (which is where they emerged from) I think that coaches, leaders and facilitators will find that the questions are another great doorway into the conversations that need to be had.  They are being offered at an introductory pricing of $25 US plus $10 shipping.

You can also bundle them with several of the other card decks - and get the full monty (all of them) including the 40 Ways Ebook  - for $150 US plus $10 shipping. They may not stay in stock for long!

Pick up a copy of the deck OR the BUNDLE here.

Is digital your preference? You can pick up a copy of the Digital Conversation Sparker Cards, bundled with the Teams365 deck already. Find the digital bundle here.
I'll be adding a digital bundle to the store soon for the new journaling cards. Digital licenses are available for immediate download via the store and images can be used in your workshops, retreats and webinars.

I'll be incorporating the new journaling cards into the 16th Annual Year-end Group and Team Programs call later this week - please drop in to this annual year-end (complimentary call) I host on FRIDAY December 13th from 230 - 3 pm Eastern/New York. We'll meet in my zoom room - 270-302-0415. Hope to see you there! I'll be sharing some of the key themes we've seen in the realm of group and team coaching this year.

Enjoy and please pass on to others who might be looking for a stocking stuffer or addition to their toolkit.

Many of you have been asking - where can I find the video about working with visual cards - the original one I did back in 2015 as a blab will be replaced by a new one 2020 style in one of the early 2020 virtual book club calls. Download the schedule here and join us for these open call - download at :
https://www.effectivevirtualconversations.com/uploads/1/9/9/2/19920499/2020_community_calls_with_jennifer_britton.pdf

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Three things you might be interested in this week -
PlanDoTrack Facilitator Training starts Tuesday at 6 pm Eastern (24 CCEs) - started and being offered 3-4 times in 2020. Stay tuned for dates.
Four hour Year End PlanDoTrack Business Planning Retreat - Friday from 1030- 230 pm ET
The 15th annual year-end group programs call - this Friday from 230 - 3 pm ET. Complimentary - join me in my zoom room 270-302-0415. We'll look at some of this year's trends and future opportunities for 2020 programming around group and team work. Hope you'll come and celebrate!

Join us for a winter 2020 program including:
Virtual Facilitation Essentials (renewing for 8.5 CCEs) - create more engaging and impactful virtual conversations - from coaching, to team development to education and webinars.
Group Coaching Essentials (8.75 CCEs) - starts again Friday January 10th at 1015 am ET
Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum (10 CCEs) - starts Friday January 10th
Mentor Coaching Groups - for ACC/PCC : 10 hours (meets ICF requirements) - starts Friday January 10 at 9 am ET

Six Exercises for Your Next Group or Team Coaching Conversation

Today's blog post gets you thinking about the topic of activities and exercises for group and team coaching conversations. Having a robust toolkit of things we can pull on "in the moment" is critical

What Do You Have In  Your Toolbox?

in group and team coaching success.

Whether you are coaching a group of business owners, or a virtual marketing team, tapping back into your coaching toolkit is always a good place to go. Consider how you might be bringing some of these standard tools and coaching approaches into conversation:

* Wheel of .....(depending on your focus it could be the Wheel of Life/Health/Leadership/Small Business/Parenting).

* Values Work - Whether it's helping clients explore their "Peak Experience" or taking them through a checklist to help them gain clarity, values work is a part of the coaching process with many models. Values help with prioritization, decision making, visioning etc.

* Vision work - We are coming onto the end of the year - just a little under 100 days left. When did you last connect your clients with their vision?

* Somatic, geography or body-centered coaching approaches - The body has a lot of wisdom which may not just be accessed through verbal conversation. What might you incorporate to support clients getting in touch with their kinesthetic knowledge?

* Strengths resources - From strengths assessments like StrengthsFinder and VIA Strengths, to strengths cards, supporting clients in identifying and leveraging their strengths can be a critical part of the coaching conversation. Is this an area your clients are exploring, or wanting to explore right now?

* Visual Cards - There is a wide variety of visual tools in the marketplace. What might you do to incorporate more visual card work in your work? Take a look at my site Conversation Sparker.com for more ideas and inspiration.

 What other coaching tools do you "go to" or incorporate on a regular basis?

Feel free to share resources with us via the Comments Section.

Warm regards,
Jennifer

 Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | /GroupCoachingEssentials
Email: info@potentialsrealized.com
Phone: 416-996-8326
Group Coaching Essentials - All things group coaching
Effective Virtual Conversations.com - All things virtual
Coaching Business Builder.com- All things business related (for coaches) 

Day 3 - 12 Days: Working With Visual Cards

One of my favorite tools in working with groups and teams is bringing in visual cards. Given that I work with many multi-national groups, English is not always the first language. Visuals create a new way to connect across the group. Visuals often spark deeper level of individual insights. Many of you are familiar with the Conversation Sparker Cards I launched back in 2014. This past year we made available a French series for coaches who work with francophone clients. 22 of the 70 Conversation Sparker cards are questions.

There are a variety of different ways be can use visual cards. Consider the opportunities:

a. As a way to open the conversation

b. As a way to close a session with a group

c. As a creative sparker for new ideas when a group is stuck or when you need a little something different

d. When you are working with a team on visioning

e. When you are working with business owners on innovation

f. When you are undertaking a strategic planning session

Many of you viewed my 2015 blab on different ways to work with visual cards over at our YouTube channel. You can view that 30 min call here.

During 2015 I created the 40 Ways to Work with Visual Cards E-Manual, which includes facilitated instructions for more than 40 different ways to incorporate your favorite visual deck in an upcoming workshop, retreat, or virtual  program. The 40 Ways E-manual is a digital download and includes 40 different activities you can facilitate, along with five worksheets you can reproduce and bring into your session. Cost is $40 US. Pick up your copy here.

Have a great Wednesday,

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC

GroupCoachingEssentials | PotentialsRealized

Footer:

About Us: Jennifer Britton is the author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013) . Since 2004 she and her company, Potentials Realized, have supported thousands of coaches, trainers, and leaders, design and create more impactful team and group programs (in-person and virtual). Jennifer offers customized programs for organizations, as well as virtual public training programs. Our areas of specialty are team development, leadership and coaching. Our 2017 programming starts during the week of January  9th and will include: The Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar (8.75 CCEs), The Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum(10 CCEs), and the Mentor Coaching Group for ACC/PCC portfolio routes. Our 2017 Learning Lab and Design Studio Group for Coaches who want to build their business and expand their group and team programs starts January as well (2 group calls on Fridays throughout 2017)

What's the Difference Between Group and Team Coaching?

A common question I often get asked what's the difference between group and team coaching? How are

they different and how are they the same.

I like to call group and team coaching related siblings, and the good news is, many of the skills are the same. What is different is how you might work with each "grouping". There are several key differences in terms of the role of relationships, leadership, how the process is sustained between conversations, and also what's at stake.

An article of mine on these differences between Group and Team Coaching was recently featured at Choice Magazine in the spring edition which spotlights Group and Team Coaching. For practitioners, it's a must read-edition, with other authors included such as Marita Frijohn of CRR and ORSC and David Clutterbuck, author of Coaching the Team At Work.

You can download a copy of my Choice Magazine article over at  the Resources page of the From One to Many website.

You might also find the two digital chapters on case studies which accompany (but are not part of) the From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching book. You can download these two chapters here (use code 4411 when prompted).



What do you see as the differences between group and team coaching? What different approaches do you use with each grouping?










Have a great start to your week,
Jennifer



Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC, CPCC
Potentials Realized | GroupCoachingEssentials
(416)996-8326
Join us for an upcoming program including the Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar, a five week program which explores the foundations of group coaching. Next group starts Friday May 1st at 9 am Eastern - being renewed for 8.75 CCEs with the ICF.

Key elements in starting a group or team coaching engagement

It is no surprise that one of the ICF core coaching competencies is about Designing the Coaching

Agreement and another is about Creating Connection and Trust. The start of a group and team coaching engagement is one of the most important things to start planning for, and considering, as your relationships with group and team members, and the expectations you create together, create the foundation for a successful engagement.

Today's blog post encourages you to consider these elements in starting up your next group or team coaching engagement:

1. Get to know group/team members: For years I've talked about, and written about, the importance of a pre-program 1-1 call in terms of getting to know your group members, identifying common issues/themes across the group, and also answering any questions about the program. These pre-calls are also important in starting to create shared expectations about the coaching process.

2.Creating Ground Rules/Ways of Working - Creating shared agreements about behaviors which will support a positive learning environment is key component of the first call. Discussion around confidentiality and what this means, and other process issues, helps to create shared understanding. It also becomes a reference point if behaviors do not match these shared agreements during your work.

3. Building connection amongst group members. Consider your introductory activities and how you want to start building relationships amongst group members. Trust and connection is key in the team and group coaching process. What will bring together the group? What themes do you want to illustrate in your work together? Whether you bring in a visual deck like Conversation Sparker Cards(TM) or look to a site such such as Wilderdom.com for inspiration, remember that people tend to remember the start and end of things, so your kick off is key!

4. Identify areas for coaching - a number of coaches ask " How is it possible to coach more than one person at a time?". Key to success is identifying the common areas people want coaching around. This can look different in different types of programs.

For team coaching, assessments often get at the core what the issues are. Assessments like the Team Diagnostic Survey from Team Coaching International, or the Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team(TM) help to pinpoint areas where there may be systemic areas of focus - low trust, inability to work across conflict etc.

In group coaching you may be marketing a program publically - for example - a business group coaching program for solopreneurs. Your program description may have drawn some of your group members to the program. Ask group members to identify and prioritize key focus areas. Working together through dialogue, what are the key topics for each session

A key definer of the coaching process is that it is shaped by the people being coached, so watch your balance between coaching and facilitation.

What else do you want to consider as you move into preparing for your fall programs? What else will create a positive first session?

Have a great week,
Jennifer


Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
GroupCoachingEssentials.com
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
(416)996-8326

Join us for an upcoming program including:
 The Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar starting Friday September 12  from 10:15-11:30 am ET by phone, with calls held September 12, 19, 26, October 3 and 10 (5 calls, 6.75 CCEs)
Advanced Group Coaching Practicum - starting Thursday September 11 from 10:15 - 11:30 am ET running to mid-October (6 calls, 8 CCEs)
Mentor Coaching Group starting Friday September 12 at 9 am Eastern, running for 3 months to mid-December. Meets the 10 hours of mentor coaching requirements with the ICF.

What's in your back pocket?

It's always useful when working with groups and teams to have something in your back pocket, just in

Photo by Panmat (Stockxchng)

case. You never know where you will go in any conversation. Sometimes groups get caught up and we may need to put something aside, and sometimes, groups move quickly, and it can be useful to have something in your back pocket.

I often get asked about some of my favorite resources. Many of them I have picked up over the years, starting with some of my initial faves from the old days of Adventure Based Learning and Project Adventure.

The web is a fantastic resource for newer facilitators, and for those of us who are experienced, who need a little bit of a spark.

What are some of your favorite web resources? 

In a few weeks I'll be traveling to Washington DC to attend the ASTD International Conference and Expo. I'm really looking forward to being surrounded by lots of info, resources and other professionals who work in the area of workplace learning.  I am also REALLY excited to visit the ASTD bookstore. I continue to recommend many books that have come out through ASTD Press for coaches, trainers and other facilitators. Most of the books I have bought from them over the years are uber-practical and really supportive in pulling GREAT programs together. You can find ASTD's online store here.

Here's a link to some of my past posts on some of the different things to do with groups and teams. Enjoy!

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, CPCC, PCC
Potentials Realized
Group Coaching Essentials
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices of Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)

Why Coaching - Several Benefits

Why Coaching Works infographic by swrightcreative.

This is a great iconograph out from the International Coaching Federation (ICF) which talks about the value of coaching. I thought that I would share it with you today.

Research from the ICF has identified increased productivity, increased positivity and return on investment (ROI) from coaching.

Increased productivity measures include:
Improved work performance (70%)
Improved business management (61%)
Improved time management (57%)
Improved team effectiveness (51%)

Improved positivity measures include:
Increased self confidence (80%)
Increased relationships (73%)
Improved communication skills (72%)
Improved work life balance (67%)

What do you see as the benefits of coaching?

Have a great start to your week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Author of  Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010)
GroupCoachingEssentials.com
Phone: (416)996-TEAM (8326)
Upcoming programs include the Group Coaching Essentials teleseminar (6.75 CCEs starting Thursday March 7 at 10 am Eastern/New York) and the Mentor Coaching Group starting Friday March 1 at 1:30 pm Eastern (for ACC Renewals and ACC/PCC portfolio routes - 10 hrs). Join me in Toronto on April 6 and 7 2013 for the Group Coaching Intensive (15 CCEs)

4 of my favorite group program resources this year

As we move towards the end of the year I am in the process of starting to take stock of different engagements I ran this year and what I want to carry forward into work with clients. I've shared a number of these throughout this year with other coaches during the Group Coaching Essentials and Advanced Group Coaching Practicum. I wanted to share four of these with you today. Consider how you might be able to incorporate these into your next group coaching program, retreat, teleclass or webinar:

1. Post It Notes - recently on my Facebook page, I outlined 5 ways to bring in post it notes (also seen here). Post-its continue to be an essential tool for engagement, addressing different learning needs, and just mixing it up in my group programs. Think about how you may use it for check ins, evaluation, brainstorming, identifying the coaching focus etc.
2. Visual Explorer  - Over the years I have written a lot about Visual Explorer which is produced by the Center for Creative Leadership. I've continued to use it regularly this year in team and group coaching processes, retreats, and also in phone and web based programs.
3. JICT Cards - These were first introduced to me by Dr. Jean Davidson at my Summer Group Coaching Intensive in Muskoka and I fell in love with them right away. Smaller than the Visual Explorer main deck which I use, the JICT cards were created by four coaches. Great photos, portable, and with a coaching process behind it, you can check out the JICT cards at CoachingToys.com. Also a terrific site for coaches to check out for many more tools.
4. Working with Strengths and Styles - Exploring strengths and styles continued to be a foundational piece of my work with teams and groups this year. Wherever possible we built on what the organization already was doing, and I found myself also bringing in the PSI (Personal Styles Inventory), StrengthsFinder, DiSC, and also VIAStrengths.

What were some of your favorite tools and resources you incorporated into your group programs this year?

Have a great week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010)
Join me for the last Group Coaching Essentials teleclass of 2012 starting this Thursday Nov 29th at 9 am Eastern. We'll be meeting on Tues/Thurs 9-10:15 am ET on November 29, December 4, 6, 13 and 18 (6.75 CCEs). Hope you can make it. More info and registration here. 
2013 BizSuccess Virtual Retreat starts this Friday at 1 pm ET and will also be held on Monday December 17th. Looking to carve out some time to focus on your business? Hope that you will join me. More info here.
Phone: (416)996-TEAM (8326)

Team Coaching Resources

I've recently had a number of requests from coaches who are working with teams in organizations, who are eager for team coaching resources. As I wrote in a post a few weeks ago, team and group coaching are sisters. For those looking for team coaching resources you may wish to check out the following books:
1. David Clutterbuck's book - Coaching the Team at Work
2. Leadership Team Coaching: Developing Collective Transformational Leadership - Peter Hawkins (geared for leaders as coach)

I also continue to sing the praises of the work of Team Coaching International and the Team Diagnostic Assessment which I have used with numerous teams, all to great success, as well as the work of the Center for Right Relationship's ORSC (Organization and Relationships Systems Coaching) model - superb for working with couples, relationships and teams.

Are there any specific team coaching resources you would recommend to other coaches? Please feel free to comment and list it below.

Warm regards
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPCC, PCC
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010)
Group Coaching Essentials (6.75 CCEs) - final teleclass of the year starts on December 1st - 3 spots still open. Tues/Thurs 7-8:15 pm ET: Dec 1, 6, 8, 13, 15

Ready Made Content for Coaches

Looking for some ready made content? Check out ReadyToRollOut.com. Early last year coach and one of my favorite co-facilitators Deborah Grayson-Riegel and I came together to create a series of workbooks which can be used, or adapted for:
- Workshops
- Group Coaching
- Teleclasses
- Newsletters
- Presentations
These are turnkey workbooks which can be used “as is” or branded with your company identity. We currently offer 6 major titles:

• Personal Productivity and Time Management
• Networking Essentials
• Strategies for Change Management
• Managing Up
• Overcoming Roadblocks (in Work or Life)
• Should I Stay or Should I Go? (Career Transition)

Purchase gives you access to 100 licenses, so you can use it with up to a 100 clients as is.

Deb and I have woven together our decades of experience in working with corporate, non-profit and community programs as trainers, coaches and facilitators. Deb and I first met back in 2007 when we co-facilitated the Learning Lab for Coaches attending the ASTD International Conference that year. Even back then coaches were hungry for more quality content.

The workbooks are delivered in word format, enabling you to add your own touches, change the flow, or pull out what you want for your own teleclass or presentation

Pricing starts at $97 US per title, or $297 US per branded title.

Visit http://www.readytorollout.com for details on each title or to purchase.

If you have any questions, please feel free to drop me an email at info@potentialsrealized.com or call me at (416) 996-8326. Hope that you enjoy them!

Warm regards,

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC

Group Coaching Essentials

Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010)

Phone: (416) 996-8326

Email: info{at}potentialsrealized{com}

Terrific Resource - Faciltiative Coaching

I often get asked for recommendations on resources for group coaching and in fact am accumulating quite a list of recommendations from coaches who I am interviewing for my book - Effective Group Coaching.

A few weeks ago I purchased a wonderful book which I feel is a must-have for all coaches bookshelf - Facilitative Coaching by Dale Schwarz and Ann Davidson.

The book is chock full of coaching exercises to use with clients - many of which could easily be adapted for the group coaching environment. What I like about the book is the range of exercises included - 71 in total! - as well as the clear cut descriptions of how to use them, and in many cases, how they've been used real life.

If you are looking for some new tools for your coaching toolkit - this is a great resource!

What other coaching books have you added recently to your bookshelf that you consider to be a must have? Feel free to comment below!

Warm regards,

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC

Group Coaching Essentials

Potentials Realized

Phone: (416) 996-TEAM (8326)

Email: info{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com

CoachCards Resurrected

I just read Andrea J. Lee's newsletter's and she's annnounced the return of a blast from the past. Many of you may remember the fantastic free ecards formerly known as CoachCards. When I was starting out as a coach I remember loving the fact that I was able to select from these beautiful ecards and send them out to my clients. My clients loved them too.

CoachCards has been resurrected and can now be found at ThomasCards.com in honor of Thomas J. Leonard of Coachville.

Click on over -- the cards are free and a great way to reach out quickly to your clients, colleagues and others!

Enjoy!

Jenn

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Group Coaching Essentials
(416) 996-TEAM (8326)
info{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com

What's hitting your radarscreen?

Open any newspaper, or turn on the TV, and change being effected by the economy, and politics (particularly this week in Canada), is evident. In fact, a major theme of a team coaching engagement I completed this morning was all around change. Many of you who are coaches are probably finding more and more clients (individuals and teams) are wanting more around support for change.

I've been receiving some interesting links to what's being reported on in the learning and organizational realms from many of the professional associations I belong to like ASTD and CSTD. I wanted to share a number of articles which I have found interesting over the last few weeks.

It seems like business owners, trainers and coaches are being impacted in different ways. Depending on services, pricing, clients, diversification some businesses are flourishing, while unforunately others are having to close their doors. What is happening within your business right now? Where are you positioning yourself in 2009?

Here's an interesting article on Speaking Fees from the NY Times
Think Horizontal from the Conference Board (great article about teams)
The 2008 ASTD State of the Industry Report was also published last month. Check out http://www.astd.org/ for up to date industry information.

What interesteing resources have you come across lately?

Have a great week
Jenn

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Potentials Realized

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

My colleague, Deborah Grayson-Riegel, has come up with a terrific resource for those of you looking to add some content to your toolkit. Entitled, Should I Stay or Should I Go, Deb's resource is terrific for coaches, trainers, and speakers who are looking for a turnkey product to integrate into workshops, group coaching sessions and speeches.

Here is what Deb has to say about Should I Stay or Should I Go:
"Attention, Fellow Coaches! Does the economy have your business -- and your clients -- feeling the strain? If so, here's a way to bring in some quick and easy coaching income while giving your clients the support they need right now. By tomorrow, you could be offering your clients this READY TO ROLL OUT, timely and lucrative teleclass or workshop:
“Should I Stay or Should I Go? How to Get the Most out of Your Job in a Tough Economy”

Certified Coach Deborah Grayson Riegel, ACC, MSW is delighted to offer this professionally written and formatted (in Word) 3500+ word workbook which includes:
* An introduction letter – from YOU
* How to know if you’ve quit your job emotionally
* 10 categories that contribute to job satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) for your clients
* 10 strategies for getting more from your current job
* 8 circumstances for knowing when it’s time to leave
* 6 steps to a smooth job transition
* Self-assessments
* Reflection Exercises
* Action-Oriented Worksheets

For only 97 USD, it's yours to customize, repackage, repurpose -- or USE AS-IS for Teleclasses, Live Workshops, individual coaching sessions, group coaching, newsletters, e-books, podcasts and MORE!

If you are interested in a copy you can view more information and purchase online here.

Deb's work is fantastic! Benefit from a ready made product to support you with a specific career coaching issue. She has some other resources for other topics that will be coming out soon as well.

Have a great week!
Warmly
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Group Coaching Essentials
Toll free: 1-866-217-1960

To Niche or Multi-Niche?

What's your niche?

Niche Marketing: Defined by entrepreneur.com as:
A portion of a market that you've identified as having some special characteristic and that's worth marketing to

A lot of business owners find that selecting a niche is one of the most challeging steps in developing their business, and many like me, resist niching into just one area.

Who do you want to work with? Who are your services most appealing and beneficial for?

Over the years I have remained multi-niched and serve a small handful of different groups around specific topics(business owners, teams, coaches on topics ranging from business success and performance to teamwork to group program issues). I must admit that it has been a little more challenging and more work than if I just worked with one niche AND it is very important for me to have diversity in my work. It's who I am and my professional background has always involved delivering/creating programs to very diverse groups on different topics.

Niching is very important as at the end of the day it's hard (if not impossible) to be all things to all people. Staking a claim on working with a certain group makes your marketing and program development work that much more meaningful for clients and focused.

In fact, Knowing Your Client, is a central theme and best practice of group coaching. As in individual coaching, holding the client's agenda is a central concept. Without knowing who our group coaching clients are, what their needs are, and what their agenda is, our program can either be ineffective, or more like a workshop than group coaching.

To support group coaches in Getting To Know their client, I developed the Group Coaching Client Assessment template a few years ago which is avaialble as part of the Group Coaching Essentials program, as well as in the soon to be released Group Program Toolkit. It's also a topic I cover in the BizSuccessVirtual Retreat (next dates June 9th and 23rd from 7-10pm EST).

If you are one of the many coaches or business owners working on discovering their niche, here are some great resources for you:

Entrepreur.com's Niche Marketing Article with tips and questions
Small Business Info Canada on Niche Marketing
US Small Business Association info on niche marketing

What other resources do recommend on niches?

Have a great week!

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CHRP, CPT
Potentials Realized
Group Coaching Essentials
Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960
Email: jennifer{at}potentialsrealized{dot}com

My Top 10 Resource Books for 2007 - Group Programs

I often get asked “What are some of the books you recommend on group programs”. Here are my top 10 favorites for 2007 (many of which were published years ago and I still keep on recommending).

Program Design/Exercises:
The Trainers Handbook – Karen Lawson
Retreats that Work – 2nd Edition –Liteman, Campbell, Liteman
90 World Class Training Activities by 90 World Class Trainers – Elaine Beich
QuickSilver – Rohnke/Butler (Project Adventure - - still a classic after all these decades – one from my roots in the experiential education field in the 1980s)

Facilitation Skills:
Facilitator's Guide to Participatory Decision Making - Kaner et al.
Mastering Virtual Teams – Duarte/Snyder
Facilitating with Ease – Fran Rees

Building Your Business:
Get Clients Now! – CJ Hayden

Coaching:
Co-Active Coaching, 2nd Edition – Whitworth, Kimsey-House, Kimsey-House, Sandahl
Appreciative Coaching – Orem, Binkert, Clancy

Most of these books are available for purchase at the bookstore I host with Amazon – along with many more. Click on over to the bookstore here.

In a future post, I will follow with my top 10 list of books I’ve been recommending to clients this year. What books have been on your top 10 reading list? Feel free to comment below.

Warm regards,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CHRP, CPCC
Potentials Realized and Group Coaching Essentials
Email: jennifer{at}potentialsrealized.com
Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960

Great magazine for Coaches - choice Magazine

If you are looking for a great magazine to stay abreast with our profession, check out choice Magazine, the magazine for professional coaches. Published quarterly, choice is full of useful articles and resources to keep you ahead of the curve. Now in it's fourth year of publication, choice provides essential insights and perspectives on the coaching profession.

To find out more visit http://www.choice-online.com/. Choice has had some terrific editions out lately including one on the important difference between coaching and therapy. Upcoming editions include Coaching and Youth, and Corporate Coaching.

If you are going to the ICF Conference this week in Long Beach, check out the choice booth - I'm sure that publisher Gary Schliefer will be there. The subscription is a great investment!

What's been your experience?

Have a great week,

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, PCC, CHRP, CPT

Potentials Realized

Group Coaching Essentials

Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960

Email: jennifer@potentialsrealized.com

The last Group Coaching Essentials program for 2007 starts next week (Mondays from 12 - 1:15 pm EST) and will be held on November 5, 12, 19 and 26th, plus a fifth call in January. If you are looking to launch your own group coaching programs for early 2008, now's the time to get moving on them. For more information on the program click here. I hope that you will join me. Space is limited to 6 coaches this session. You can register online at the links above, or by calling me toll free at 1-866-217-1960.

More resources for group work

I must admit that I didn't get back with my promised posting last week -- it seems as though just as quickly as the leaves are starting to fall from the trees, a number of new corporate and group clients are starting to arrive at my doorstep. Isn't it amazing how the metaphor of seasonal change can bring so much richness?

I received a wonderful new book on games last week from ASTD (www.astd.org). I often speak to coaches about what a great resource ASTD is (as is CSTD - the Canadian Society for Training and Development). If you are looking for resources and information on learning and development, and working with teams and groups, ASTD is an organization you must connect with. The have fantastic chapters across the US that you can get involved with, as well as a strong international network. Their annual international conference (usually held in May/June) is chock full of information. They also hold an annual E-Learning Conference - TechKnowledge in the early part of the year. Their early bird registration deadline is coming up soon, so if E-learning is an area you want to start to play in and prehaps Las Vegas is a place you want to visit, you may want to consider attending the TechKnowledge conference. I attended back in 2003 and took away some amazing new knowledge and skills.

Steve Sugar and Jennifer Whitcomb have put out a great new book called Training Games which includes a lot of how tos, some exercises and a lot of information on how to select the right exercise or game for different groups. You can check it out further at ASTD's online store: http://store.astd.org. Special discounts apply for ASTD members (and if you aren't one yet, it's a great investment).

One of the topics I speak alot about is the skill sets needed by group coaches. As trained coaches to do 1-1 work we already bring a great toolkit and have many, many tools to use in group contexts. However, I do believe that anyone working with groups as a coach should also have a solid understanding in group development, group facilitation skills, and knowledge of adult and experiential education principles. If you are looking to add these skills and knowledge, or brush up on them, consider some of the programs and conferences held by ASTD.

On the topic of conferences, we are less than a month away from the ICF Conference in St. Louis (November 1-4). I am so looking forward to seeing so many friends and colleagues in person, many of whom I will finally be putting a face to a voice. Will you be there? I'd love to hear if you will be there and would love to connect in person!

Warmly,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, CPCC, CHRP
Potentials Realized
http://www.groupcoachingessentials.com and www.potentialsrealized.com
Email: jennifer@potentialsrealized.com

Amazing Resource for Group Activities and Exercises: Wilderdom.com

Keeping in the theme of powerful and engaging exercises for small groups, I wanted to share a great link with you to Wilderdom - www.wilderdom.com. If you are looking for some free resources to incorporate into your next program check out their index of group activities at www.wilderdom.com/games. There is also great information about outdoor and experiential education, as well as quotes on inspiration, life and wilderness.

As a former outdoor and experiential educator myself, I was so pleased to come across this fantastic site which originates from James Neill in Australia. Thank you James for putting this amazing body of work together.

Enjoy checking out the site! I'll be back later this week with more on games, and a special offer on my Engaging Exercises for Teams and Groups Manual.

Jennifer
Jennifer Britton ~ Potentials Realized
Web: www.groupcoachingessentials.com and www.potentialsrealized.com
Email: jennifer@potentialsrealized.com
Toll Free: 1-866-217-1960

A few spaces still remain for the next Group Coaching Essentials program which starts next Tuesday October 3rd at 10:45 - 12 noon(EST). The dates for the program are: Oct. 3, 17, 24 and 31st (note a slight change to originally published dates as a client has booked me to run an all day retreat on the 10th).

You'll participate in 5 x 75 minute teleseminars on the HOW TOs for developing and marketing your group coaching programs. You'll also receive a 70 page manual, full of information, resources and links to support you in your program development, marketing and implementation. In addition, all participants can access me for 1-1 meetings throughout the course of the program at no extra charge. The cost for the program is $225 USD.

This program is hands-on and interactive - space is limited to 8 coaches. Click here for an overview of the program. Downloadable registration forms are available here. Please email or phone to reserve your spot. I look forward to serving you!